Upgrades rated

[Winmoz]

As some of you may know, my long term plan with ELO is to create one of the last 3.5Rs.

The journey started with my order, placed in November 2016, for a NA 3.5. I really wanted a K20, but would have been happy with a K24.

Fast forward to March 2018, and I picked up the car (K20 (silver top) 245 3.5) and enjoyed the induction noise a lot on various track days.

Then it was time to start the upgrades.

1) Aero set - not all convinced that there is much on the way of rear downforce on offer, but have found that it is much easier to get heat into the front tyres on track with the front wing in an aggressive angle of attack. But mainly, the wings look damn good.
2) Supercharger- why did I not spec this from the outset? Oh yes, I wanted a NA car with synaptic throttle response and awesome induction noise. The NA car delivered that and more. But 310bhp is just better than 245. It just is. Plus the supercharger whine is almost pornographic. The way the car adds speed is crazy, on the road there simply is no need for more.

On the track, that may be another story…

3) AO52s - a huge step on from the old 48s and much more readable than the 888s I’ve run on other track cars.

4) To come: Dymags

5) To come: R kit

So far, for value for money, the tyres win, all day long. For giggles, the supercharger is the winner.

Will I feel the same way about the R upgrade?

[IanG]

Yep nothing more to say

[Fastlane]

Can't fault you on any of those choices - I'd also suggest the Tillets as they are very comfortable and look lovely.

Interestingly I had a chat with Ben at the factory a few weeks ago about upgrading my 3 to 3.5R spec, and he reckoned a non-original R isn't worth as much as an original one (although maybe he just meant an upgraded 3?) Your car has to be worth £45k, the R upgrade is c.30k I believe, so a total of c.£75k, for which you can buy an "original" R (if you can find one) or a very well specified 4.

Of course none of us do these things based on common sense, otherwise we wouldn't have bought an Atom in the first place, so I say go for it!

[Rickywoolston]

Hi I’m contemplating selling my dymags if your interested?, there the 3.5r size so 8” rears, I paid over £2000 for them used but ideally looking to keep the tyres for my skunkwurx wheels

[AlanP]

Dear Mr Winmoz,

Have you been in an R? You aren't desperately far from me, I'd very gladly take you out on a dry day.

A (Northwood)

[Winmoz]

Alan,

I have had the pleasure of being in Sir Nick’s R, but we got stuck in a traffic jam between Castle Combe and a petrol station, so not been in one properly lit. That said I have tried chasing various Rs around tracks and roads, so have an idea about their performance envelopes.

All that said - thank you for your kind offer and yes please!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Winmoz]

Your car has to be worth £45k, the R upgrade is c.30k I believe, so a total of c.£75k, for which you can buy an "original" R (if you can find one) or a very well specified 4.

Of course none of us do these things based on common sense, otherwise we wouldn't have bought an Atom in the first place, so I say go for it!

When I bought the car I said to Henry the object was to keep adding to it until R Spec was achieved. It was acknowledged that it would be more expensive in the long run, but, hey it’s not a logical decision to by a car with no weather protection in the UK!

My next step is probably £15k for the engine, injectors, map, side pods and wiring. I have the Dymags so will need wider arches at the rear. Then I just need the Ohlins. So I think I am about 20k away.
Would it have been cheaper to sell and wait for. 4? Probably, but then I would not have. 3.5R

But the smart (resale view) would be to go for a 4, or maybe a 4R. I’ve never been smart.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mrpgkennedy]

having previously mothballed my atom 3 the decommissioned it, I find myself thinking along similar lines to you, would be interested in the breakdown of the prices. I am less interested in the full r spec but more of a fast road spec. Mine is a 3.5 chassis ( due to a small "incident" during recommissioning) plus the 3.5 lights, handling, ecu and sports exhaust
like you I'm sure the sensible thing would be a buy a new car, but it's my car that and I like the analogue dials
so 15k for the side pods and 350? is that ex vat?
I'm sure I read somewhere it was like 6-7k for the ohlins? do they make that much difference?
I'm also sure I've read somewhere you can get the 4 wishbones and uprights to fit the 3 is this correct?
I have the 3 dynamags are the 3.5r versions that different? is it just a wider rear? I have some team dynamic wheels are tyres to go on, was just waiting to get the mudguards but they seem both wider and bigger

pk

[AlanP]

'But the smart (resale view) would be to go for a 4, or maybe a 4R. I’ve never been smart'

There must be hundreds of 4s out there now, I'm not sure I'd agree with the above.

A

[Jamier27]

having previously mothballed my atom 3 the decommissioned it, I find myself thinking along similar lines to you, would be interested in the breakdown of the prices. I am less interested in the full r spec but more of a fast road spec. Mine is a 3.5 chassis ( due to a small "incident" during recommissioning) plus the 3.5 lights, handling, ecu and sports exhaust
like you I'm sure the sensible thing would be a buy a new car, but it's my car that and I like the analogue dials
so 15k for the side pods and 350? is that ex vat?
I'm sure I read somewhere it was like 6-7k for the ohlins? do they make that much difference?
I'm also sure I've read somewhere you can get the 4 wishbones and uprights to fit the 3 is this correct?
I have the 3 dynamags are the 3.5r versions that different? is it just a wider rear? I have some team dynamic wheels are tyres to go on, was just waiting to get the mudguards but they seem both wider and bigger

pk

Mine was upgraded to an R spec and price was around 11k including vat.
That’s for the pods and power upgrade.
Already had the Ohlins and aero kit.

[Winmoz]

My car is booked in for the R upgrade at the latest end of the month.

Going for the power. Will think about moving up to Ohlins once I have for a few track shake downs, although Steve at the factory suggest spring changes could also give some benefits.

Great that the factory is honouring the price list from when I bought the car new!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Jamier27]

Not considering getting it on a local friendly dyno prior to the upgrade and then afterwards…?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts

[reg]

Not considering getting it on a local friendly dyno prior to the upgrade and then afterwards…?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts

Sage advice.

[reg]

What is interesting on the 4 is the uplift in performance with the sequential. I had a day on track with 2 cars (passenger) and it is night and day, really. Does the Sadev use much different ratio's or is it just the 4 as the NA manual box is mismatched to the FI engine?

[atomiser]

The Sadev requires chassis mods according to the factory, so though on the options list it looks 'cheap' and will tear clothing off attractive people at 100 paces, i got quoted £28k for a retrofit to a 3.5 cup.

It also worth noting the strip down/replace required at 10k miles - though the factory said they was hardly any wear on the last one they did.

All of the other upgrades such as the power hike, wheels and suspension would make a big difference IMHO along with some bigger gonads and talent